America's 100 Must See Exhibits

pachyderm pro said:
37. Penguin and Puffin Coast
Saint Louis Zoo, MO
Opened: 2003
Size: 12,800 Square Feet (1,190 Square Meters)
Inhabitants: Humboldt Penguin, King Penguin, Southern Rockhopper Penguin, Gentoo Penguin, Tufted Puffin, Horned Puffin

Antarctic penguins and seabirds have proven to be tricky to exhibit well, but this house manages to display them in a very memorable way. Instead of being behind a sheet of glass, the penguins and puffins are in open topped enclosures on both sides of the visitor pathway. You’re able to get so close to the animals that you would be able to reach over the glass and pet one if it weren't for the docents stationed to prevent anyone from doing so. At certain angles the birds can even look down upon visitors with seemingly no visible barriers preventing them from escaping. However, it is clear that this is an exhibit primarily designed for the guests rather than the animals, as the amount of room the penguins have isn’t particularly large compared to other penguinariums - although the space for the puffins is more than adequate. This is one of the most popular attractions at the zoo and since the house is rather small, lines forming outside the door happen frequently. Luckily, a rocky outdoor pool for not so antarctic Humboldt penguins should keep you entertained until it's you're able to enter.

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Similar Exhibits: There is one, but because it's not technically eligible for this list I will have to wait just a little longer to talk about it.
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That penguin exhibits looks too cramped.
 
StoppableSan said:
To be fair, the penguins can at least swim underneath the visitor path
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I think you're getting this exhibit confused with the penguin exhibit at Indianapolis. Saint Louis does not have that same set-up to my knowledge, as I've only ever seen king penguins in the larger of the two exhibits.
StoppableSan said:
and are brought outside from time to time in the winter when there's snow on the ground.
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This is true. Here's a brief video that shows keepers taking the penguins for one of their seasonal "walks".
 
pachyderm pro said:
I think you're getting this exhibit confused with the penguin exhibit at Indianapolis. Saint Louis does not have that same set-up to my knowledge, as I've only ever seen king penguins in the larger of the two exhibits.

This is true. Here's a brief video that shows keepers taking the penguins for one of their seasonal "walks".
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That underwater passage isn't visible unless you know where you're looking - the reason I know about this is because I got a friend who visits regularly, and I've *sort* of seen it on Streetview. There's a bit of rockwork in the pool with some lighting adjoining the glass, and that should be where the underwater passage is.

Google Earth
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38. Lemur Forests
Duke Lemur Center, NC
Opened: c.1966
Size: 69 Acres (28 Hectares)
Inhabitants: 8 species of lemur including Conquerel’s Sifaka, Ring-tailed Lemur, Red Ruffed Lemur, Blue-eyed Black Lemur and more.

Unlike Europe, walkthrough lemur exhibits are unfortunately scarce in North America. Even so, the US is home to perhaps the most comprehensive lemur experience anywhere in the western world. The Duke Lemur Center hosts the largest collection of lemurs outside of Madagascar and while some residents are displayed in more traditional accommodations, many of the inhabitants can be found in one of nine multi-acre enclosures which are fenced off portions of existing forest. The environments are completely naturalistic and it is a delight to watch the various species of lemur scurrying around the treetops in large groups. Several elevated observation decks are also dotted throughout the enclosures to provide easier viewing when necessary. It's worth noting the center is only open by guided tour so you will have to book the 'Walking With Lemurs' tour in order to access these enclosures properly and you may not see every species present. Some may view that caveat as a detriment, but this means you're virtually guaranteed to see some activity as keepers will leave out food for the lemurs which encourages them to come right where the visitors are.

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Similar Exhibits: None.
 
pachyderm pro said:
35. Black Bear Falls
Zoo Knoxville, TN
Opened: 2000
Size: 1 Acre (0.4 Hectares)
Inhabitants: American Black Bear

Compared to our counterparts in Europe, American zoos love mock-rock sometimes to a fault. Nowhere is there a better example of that than this black bear habitat. With more mock-rock filling this one exhibit than some entire zoos, this unorthodox enclosure is as effective as it is brutally unattractive. Despite its questionable aesthetics, it does succeed in creating a great and incredibly dynamic habitat for the bears. The space is not only dominated by gunite facades, but also by huge, equally ugly artificial trees that provide excellent verticality to the space. It’s built on a slope and the focus on the arboreal element of black bear life which is normally overlooked is excellent. The exhibit is viewed from a long, dark tunnel that has multiple viewing portals of varying sizes. While it's completely unconventional and certainly odd in appearance, for the animals it’s an excellent habitat that suits its inhabitants needs to a tee, even if it’s filled with enough concrete to build a small fallout shelter.
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So now ugliness is considered a criteria for "must see"? I try not to be a negative person so I am struggling to think how to word my response without a personal attack. I guess the best I can say is that your definition of a good or must-see zoo exhibit and mine are wildly different (which I already knew from the Wisconsin badger inclusion).

I haven't been following this or any other thread closely (since I am not that interested in zoos any more), but based on the few replies I have read I think a lot of members agree with me on this front. I also agree with the person who wrote Northwest Trek might be the winner for black bear exhibits.
 
pachyderm pro said:
38. Lemur Forests
Duke Lemur Center, NC
Opened: c.1966
Size: 69 Acres (28 Hectares)
Inhabitants: 8 species of lemur including Conquerel’s Sifaka, Ring-tailed Lemur, Red Ruffed Lemur, Blue-eyed Black Lemur and more.

Unlike Europe, walkthrough lemur exhibits are unfortunately scarce in North America. Even so, the US is home to perhaps the most comprehensive lemur experience anywhere in the western world. The Duke Lemur Center hosts the largest collection of lemurs outside of Madagascar and while some residents are displayed in more traditional accommodations, many of the inhabitants can be found in one of nine multi-acre enclosures which are fenced off portions of existing forest. The environments are completely naturalistic and it is a delight to watch the various species of lemur scurrying around the treetops in large groups. Several elevated observation decks are also dotted throughout the enclosures to provide easier viewing when necessary. It's worth noting the center is only open by guided tour so you will have to book the 'Walking With Lemurs' tour in order to access these enclosures properly and you may not see every species present. Some may view that caveat as a detriment, but this means you're virtually guaranteed to see some activity as keepers will leave out food for the lemurs which encourages them to come right where the visitors are.
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I did really enjoy my time here, (and even have a tshirt from the gift shop). As someone who has fallen out of love with traditional zoos and feel the majority of exhibits are too small, it is refreshing to see animals like lemurs in what is as close to being in the wild as is possible in a zoological setting. (I should note, however, some species are still confined to corn-crib cages, which is a problem IMO). I agree this is a must see for animal / zoo lovers, but whether or not it could be considered a zoo exhibit and thus fit on this list is a matter of debate. Either way, see it and do the (more expensive) forest walk-thru tour if you ever get a chance.
 
Arizona Docent said:
So now ugliness is considered a criteria for "must see"? I try not to be a negative person so I am struggling to think how to word my response without a personal attack. I guess the best I can say is that your definition of a good or must-see zoo exhibit and mine are wildly different (which I already knew from the Wisconsin badger inclusion).

I haven't been following this or any other thread closely (since I am not that interested in zoos any more), but based on the few replies I have read I think a lot of members agree with me on this front. I also agree with the person who wrote Northwest Trek might be the winner for black bear exhibits.
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I don't think it's the ugliness per se and more so the effectiveness of how they use the artificial trees and rocks as a great vertical use for black bears to climb them. I don't know how many zoos does this, so that uniqueness doesn't really get featured anywhere.
 
Arizona Docent said:
So now ugliness is considered a criteria for "must see"? I try not to be a negative person so I am struggling to think how to word my response without a personal attack. I guess the best I can say is that your definition of a good or must-see zoo exhibit and mine are wildly different (which I already knew from the Wisconsin badger inclusion).
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I never said ugliness is considered a criteria. In hindsight, I can understand and accept this indifference regarding Wisconsin Heritage, but when it comes to Black Bear Falls it appears most people agree with or at the very least understand it's inclusion. There has already been a long dialogue about the exhibit and plenty of different views have been expressed, so I'd really rather not drudge this discussion back up considering we've moved on from that profile.

If you weren't a fan of that entry, you're really not going to like the next exhibit. It's something of a zoo-nerd "favorite" to talk about. :p
Arizona Docent said:
I agree this is a must see for animal / zoo lovers, but whether or not it could be considered a zoo exhibit and thus fit on this list is a matter of debate. Either way, see it and do the (more expensive) forest walk-thru tour if you ever get a chance.
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After last years' White Oak discourse, I came prepared for this debate. ;) Quite frankly I don't see why it shouldn't be considered. It's a publicly accessible animal enclosure that is the core reason why most people visit the DLC in the first place. I do agree that the corn-crib cages definitely need to go, but in this context I'm just referring to the forest enclosures which I don't think anyone will deny are phenomenal.
 
pachyderm pro said:
After last years' White Oak discourse, I came prepared for this debate. ;) Quite frankly I don't see why it shouldn't be considered. It's a publicly accessible animal enclosure that is the core reason why most people visit the DLC in the first place. I do agree that the corn-crib cages definitely need to go, but in this context I'm just referring to the forest enclosures which I don't think anyone will deny are phenomenal.
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I agree with you on this. I didn't place this one on my list of guesses for exhibits, but that's more so out of not thinking of DLC when I'm thinking of zoos with impressive exhibitry, not that this exhibit isn't an impressive exhibit, or that it didn't count as a zoo exhibit, as I think it's pretty clear it is an exhibit, as it has animals in it that people can view.

This is going on my list of exhibits that I didn't include either due to not being aware of them, or having forgot about them when making the list. I have nothing but respect for DLC, and it's high on my list of zoos I'd like to visit someday.
 
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